Beat AS Fund for Andrea❤️

I never thought I would be doing something like this for one of the most vibrant woman I know. Most of you know that my cousin Andrea Meier Chaplin has been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. This disease has taken one of hardest working, fun loving, helpful, active people I know and reduced her to being home most days, unable to work, walking with a cane and even using a wheel chair for long trips out. Some days the pain is so bad, she can’t even get up and do simple everyday things. This disease effects the whole body, in Andrea’s case it has progressed beyond the initial phase and that is why her case is so challenging. Her treatments so far have not been successful. Her bills for all of it; dr appointments, medications, supplements, physical therapy (and that’s just some of it) are piling up. The worst part is that there are other treatments that may help her but insurance doesn’t cover them.  Andrea and John went from a two income household to a one income household overnight.  Andrea had to apply for permanent disability but it can take up to a year to get any money.  I am afraid that if she doesn’t find something to slow down the progression of this disease she is will end up with her spine fusing together and that can not be reversed. 
     There is only so much any one of us can do but when I think about what we could do together, I feel hope. My prayer is that she can focus on all types of treatments and that one of them work. Thank you in advance for helping my cousin and best friend. I am forever grateful❤️